Compressive force promotes chondrogenic differentiation and hypertrophy in midpalatal suture cartilage in growing rats

Midpalatal suture cartilage (MSC) is secondary cartilage located between the bilateral maxillary bones and has been utilized in the analysis of the biomechanical characteristics of secondary cartilage. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of compressive force on the differentiation of cartilage in midpalatal suture cartilage in rats. Forces of various magnitudes were applied to the midpalatal suture cartilage in 4-week-old male Wistar rats for 1, 2, 4, 7, or 14 days, mediated through the bilateral 1st molars using orthodontic wires. The differentiation pathways in the MSC cells were examined by immunohistochemistry for the differentiation markers type I, type II and type X collagen, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), chondroitin-4-sulfate, condroition-6-sulfate and keratan sulfate. Histologically and immunohistochemically, the midpalatal suture cartilage in control rats had the characteristic appearance of secondary cartilage. In the experimental groups, the center of the midpalatal suture cartilage that contained osteo-chondro progenitor cells seemed to become mature cartilage and its immuno-reaction to type II and X collagen and GAGs increased as the experiment progressed. This differentiation was dependent upon the magnitude and duration of the force applied to the midpalatal suture cartilage; i.e., cartilaginous differentiation progressed more rapidly as the applied force increased. The present results suggest that the differentiation of osteo-chondro progenitor cells into mature and hypertrophic chondrocytes in the precartilaginous cell layer is promoted by compressive force. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.